Macristium The Bathysauridae are a small family of deepwater aulopiform fish, related to the telescopefishes.

Physically, the bathysaurids resemble the lizardfishes, as reflected in their common names.

They are one of the world's deepest living apex predators, and will not hesitate to eat anything they meet, including their own kind.

[1] Their larvae were originally believed to represent a distinct genus (Macristium) and even family.

[citation needed] The two bathysaurid species, Bathysaurus mollis and Bathysaurus ferox are hermaphrodites, meaning they sport both male and female sex organs, but not much is known about their mating and breeding habits due to the great depth the two species live at.